Heater control system with time-delay switch



Dec. 26, 1950 v. N. TRAMONTINI 2,535,969 v HEATER CONTROL SYSTEM WITH TIME DELAY SWITCH Filed sept. 14, 194e DEF'LECTION TIME Patented Dec. 26, 1950 25355969 CONTROL SYSTEM WITH 'IIME-DELAY SWITCH. v Vernon: N.V Tvamontini, Indianapolis; I:nd. as;-

signor to- Stewart-Warner Gorporatom Chifxa-gm;` Ill-., a corporation of' Virginia ppIioatmlSeDtem-ber 14, 19116, SlelialNo; 697,127;

l` The present invention relates to heater' con-Y Junel I4, 19.46; andi which haabeen': given: Seriali No; 676,776; nowPatentNoa. 2,50F108:1.grantedMay 911950, and. assigned. to.5 the: present'. assignee, has; no device toishui'ioi tl'ieiilo'w` of' fuelto theheater vvin.' the event. thatf the; heater does not; start. propr erly. Under'certainiconditions ow of. fuel to; the'. I1- `hea-ter ist noti particularly objectionable eveni though'. the hea-ter does. noti start, because. the: cntant'ity` of.` fuelwhich: collects; in; the heater.l and; subsequently flows from the.- exhaust.; pipe is; notv very great. Under some conditions, howexieigit,

is: desirable'-` tolturn off: the; fuel supply tof the heater. ratherV promptly" in; the: eventi that the'- heater doesinotstart;

In` the past.) time: deia'yf switehes-I have been.l pro'-A pose'd for this; purposeM 'Ilrfey` usually depend uporrthezrate of: hea-tingen a; bimetal strip by electric;A resistance.- elemexrt. t@ determine the; inr tenvalfromzthe. tinrei the; heater turned' on until. the` fuel supplyautomati'callyftumed off: inlthe event: that the: heater` doeii noti start.. meanwhile; TheV diillculty with. such; schemes. when: applied toT automobile orf other' vehicle: heaters: is that; the voltages atv the heatenmay vary all; the.- way from approximat'elyK foul: voltse td. over eight: volts and,.

therefore;` thefrate. of heating; ot the: thermo f sensitiveelenienizoisuch a timefdel'ay switch will" noti. be-.eve1napproximately constant-` As anex.--

amp-1e,` a.: high: voltage; source,v will' cause the biy metall elementtoheat up. quickly and to tum off the heaterwithixi: a coxnparativelyT short. time in terval whereas. lower voltages; will require longer. time for: operation and under some; conditions the: switch: may' neven opera-tetl at. all because the: heats loss; fromf. the bimetal element may balance. the heat gain from the electric resistance heaterv before the. thermosensitive. element has. deflected enough to' operate: theK switch.. It is;f therefore-,i one-of tha-objects ofthevpresentlinventionzto nroik vide'- a: novell heater controh system. having:l a time; delayA switch. of the` eleotrioally heated: bimeta-l` type w-hi'clnwillhave-asuiistantialiyconstanttime of'v operationY even.. though; the voltage suppliedf thereto may vary: throughout a2 wide range;`

Yet. anotherobjectis` to; provide a. novel vehiclef hea-ter? electrical; citcuiti which: will! interruiit the eoiaims.. 01. issues.)

flow of fuel toE theifhea'ter inA the eventi that. the: heater'doesL notstart. with-in a short period) sucit: as a mattei' oftlireeminutes or soafter'tlie heater' has been turned on.

Other objects and advantages will become a'pv` parent from the following' descriptionl of' a prei--Ar ferred embodiment of my invention which isi-llus-f tra-ted.` in theia'coompanying drawings.

In thel drawings:

Fig; 1 isla lcn'gitudinalfverticalsectional view off al time delay switch: emboziyin'g'the presentinvention;

Fig'. 2 isf a topfviewfof: aiswitch embodying the present`1 invention;

Fig.A 3 is an electrical`` circuit diagram illustrati# ing one: arrangement` for." using' theV switch illusitrated in Figs'. l andi 2for controlling the opera'- tio'nofa heater; and" Fig, 4 is a graph showing deflection ofthebimetall elements: plotted againsttime at. different ambient-voltages:`

A'` heater` of. theA type?` intended?. to be used. with.: the switch)V off the present: invention: isf described; in'K the. previously" refer-retti tor copending' aiziplica'` tion. For the-1A purposeof. understandingthe; pres-- ent.- invention, it suiiieient to. consider'. that such; ai heater: is provided with: anx electrical ignite'r: ofthe` hot; wire typeindioat'ed in'` Fig'. 32 byv theA nui-f meral. I'' whiel'ry is: energizedat the. timey of starting thte: hea-ter; This. ignit'e'r.I quickly heats to ig-ni-vv tion tempera-ture and normally starts combustion within the heater in a matter of ten tetu/.en'tyVA seconds; although under soxneiccnditlons ignition maybe: delayed? for a2 periodi of ari additionalzhalf:

-. minute on so; particularly if theA` ambient: temp* pera'tureis low or the volta'gefislow sothatcon# siderableitnne is required tobring; the" igniter:v to' ignition. temperature.

Such aheate'rf isi alsoV provided. with? a magnetic valveindicated im Eigi' by the numeral |22,- which is located iu the fuel? line tof the heater: and is.: normally in. the. closedi position.. When this: valve: isf energizedA electrically; it: opens and' permts fuel toi olw' until itisV dei-energized?. Thus; th'e flow: of fuel tokv theheater'can be: eontrolledi by energizing: the valve i2.

. The igniter lll"` is energized byu/ay of a. relaxt Il under the control'` ot an: ignter. switch; Hi The^ switch |=6f is;v normallyv closed whenever.-` the heater` is cold so that as soon asl armaster switch I8.E is closed thercoil 20J of. theaifelay; willL he energized.;

thereby closing; the` relay' |94 and, energizingv the;

igniter. til- I the#- hea-tet starts promptly as; it shouldi,L the increase inL tempera-mire'. of; the ignited. switch. 16,. which isr m'lrxnaliyv located so. as; tof be:

sensitive either to the temperature of the air ow from the heater or to the temperature of some portion of the metal surface of the heater, will cause this switch to interrupt the circuit to the coil 28 of the relay, thereby permitting the relay to drop open and de-energize the igniter I8.

The switch of the present invention operates 1n conjunction with the igniter circuit and functions to interrupt the supply of fuel to the heater in the event that the igniter circuit remains energized after a period of three minutes or so.

By referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, it will be seen that the switch comprises a lower bimetal element 22 supported fat vone end in an insulating block 24 while thefree end is provided with a contact 26 upon its upper side. This contact 2'8 is associatedwith a second contact 28 mounted near the outer free end of va spring metal strip 30, the opposite end of which is xed rigidly with respect to the similar end ofthe bimetal stripg'22 4in the block 24. The end of this strip 30 -forms a terminal 3l. An upper bimetal strip 32 is4 disposed above the spring metal strip 30 and has one end fixed in they block 24 while its free end is located approximately above the `contact 28. n In other words, the three strips 2:2', k38 and 32 are gen-- erally parallel. Atgits extreme outer end the strip 30 has an upwardly bent portion 34 which extends to aposition well above the end of the strip 32 andV there is reversely bent to form a hook 36 adapted to be caught by the outer end ofthe bimetalstrip 32when this latter strip is bent upwardly a predetermined amount relative tothe strip 30. The bimetal strips 22 and 32 maybe considered as identicalin characteristics in that both of the;strips will ex upwardly the same amount when heated to the same temperature. A I i' The lower -bimetal strip 22 is Awound with an electric resistance heating element 38, one end of whichis connected to the bimetal strip 2,2 and t'oa terminal 40 which extends outwardly `from the block 24. yThe opposite end of the heating element 3,8 is grounded as by a c lip 42 which extends outwardly from; the lblock A24; to form a terminalM. Thelupper-bimetal'strip 32 is sim.-v ilarly wound with an electric heating element 4,8 having one end grounded toj a 'terminal clip 48.while the other end is connected to a terminal 58 which extends outwardly from the block 24.

The resistance, of the `upper heating element 4.6 is somewhat` lower than that of the lower element, 38. As an example, in a typical switch adapted for operation at six volts, the resistance of the upper elementmay-be ohms while that for the lower strip may be 36 ohms.

:..?In='addition to thev heating element 48, the upper strip 32 is also provided with a coil of comparatively heavy copper 'wire 52 which is wound between the turns .of the; heating element 46;" This copper coili52 isf'not connectedat its ends but simply servesyas will vbe pointed Vout presently, to increase the heat capacity of the upper bimetal strip.

i' Inasmuch as the Im'ass added to the upper strip to increase its heat capacity is'in the-form ofA a loose copper coil 52, it will be appreciated that this coil .is quite soft and flexible and that, therefore, it will have little or no iriiiuence upon the bending movement of' the strip l32. vBy referring to Fig. 3 of the drawings, it will beseen that the battery, for instance, a six volt. automobile battery 54, is grounded at `one side 4 while its other side is connected by a lead 5G to the previously referred to master switch I8. The opposite side of the master switch is connected by a lead 28 to a bimetal type overheat safety switch 58, the opposite side of which leads to the terminal 48 connected to one end of the heating element 38 and to 'thev bimetal strip 22, thereby energizing the contact 33., i

The lead 2u from the master switch is also connected by a branch 68 to the ignter iii by way of a relay I4, this relay being operated by the previously referred to coil 2t, one side of which is grounded, the other being connected to the branch 6d by way of the thermosensitive igniterswitch IB. The igniter terminal connected to the relay I4 is also connected by a lead 32 to the terminal 58 leading to the heater element 4S associated with the bimetal strip 32, the Votl'ier end of this` heater element being grounded as previously described.

. The contact 28 is electrically connected by way of the strip 30 and terminal 3l at the-end thereof to a lead 84 connected at its opposite end to the coil of the magnetic Valve I2, the opposite end of this coil being grounded; As previously mentioned, this coil is of the type which remains closed as rlong as it is deenergized and opens whenever electrical energy is iowing thereto.

`The device operates in the following manner. Whenever the heater is cold, contacts 25 and 28 will be together and the free end-,of the bimetal strip 32 will be somewhat below the end of the hook 36. Also, the overheat switch 58 which is of the bimetal type will be closed as will the igniter switch I6. The overheatv switch 5 8 is arranged as is customary so as to be sensitive to the temperature of the air flowing from the heater and is designed to open whenever this temperature exceeds some predetermined safe maximum. -f Assuming that the.v heater Switchesare `irl the positions above describedandthat the heater master switch I8 is closed, itpwill be seen that electricalenergy will flow through the switch I8 and lead 68. to theA igniter switch It. This being closed, .the circuit continues through ;.the relay coil Zit-"and totground, thereby causing the relay to close :and: .permit electrical :energy to flow through the contacts I4 to the .igniter I El. Energy ows by the `same path and through :the lead 62 to the heating element 45 which immediately starts to increase in temperature. Simulta-V neously, current flows by." way of fthe. overheat switch 58 `to the heating element 38 and to the bimetal strip 22 and thence to the contact 26. The temperature 'ofA the vheating element 38, therefore, starts to 'increasewvhile current flowing from the Contact 26 tothe contact 28 and continuing by Way of the strip 38 and lead v64 opens the fuel valve I2. Thus, immediately upon closing of the switch. I8 the igniter Itv starts heating, fuel is supplied to the heater, and heating elements38 and 46 are increasing. in temperatures, The bimetal strips 22 and 32, therefore, begin `to ex upwardly.. Y 4-vlna's'mucl'i as the resistance yof the bimetal heater 46 is less than the heater 38, the upper strip 32 will be supplied with heat at a more rapid rate thanvwill the lower strip 22.V However, because the comparativelylarge mass of copper consisting of the coil 52 is associated with the upperbimetal strip 32, the rateA of temperature rise of the upper strip will be less than will be the rate of rise of lower strip 22. 4For a period of time, therefore', the-free endn of the strip 22 will gse-gew U mover-upwardly more# rapidly thanv will the continues to ilow to the heater in the` normal manner. v

If, on the other. hand,v the heater does not start for any of a number of reasons., the igniter switch I6 willl remain closed, thereby` continuing," ener-- @cation-ofA the heating element 68".- Inasmuch' as the heating element 46 supplies more heat than does the lower heating element 38, it will be seen that eventually it will heat the bimetal strip 32 to a higher equilibrium temperature in spite of the presence of the mass of copper consisting of the coil 52. Therefore, although the lower strip flexes upwardly more rapidly at first, it will approach equilibrium conditions sooner so that eventually it approaches a stationary position. Soon thereafter the free end of the upper strip 32 catches beneath the hook 36 and lifts the contact 28 away from the contact 26, thereby de-energizing the fuel valve l2 so as to interrupt the flow of fuel to the heater. The contacts 26 and 28 will of course be held in the open position so long as the master switch I8 is closed.

In Fig. 4 the lowermost curve A shows the rate of upward movement of the upper bimetal strip 32 plotted against time at six volts. The second curve B is a similar plotting of the upward movement of the free end of the lower bimetal strip 22 also at six volts. From these two curves it will be seen that the rate of movement of the upper strip 32 is more nearly a straight line for a greater length of time whereas the rate of movement of the strip B is more rapid at first but approaches equilibrium more quickly. Further, it is apparent that at the point C the free ends of the two strips have moved an equal amount and that shortly thereafter, at the point D, the movement of the upper strip will have been greater than the movement of the lower strip by an amount equal to the original spacing between the free end of the upper bimetal strip 32 and the hook 36. The

contacts 28 and 26 are, therefore, separated at the point D.

The upper set of curves E and F illustrates the same phenomenon as the curves A and B, respectively, excepting at eight volts rather than six volts. From a comparison of these two sets of curves it will be seen that although the deflection at the higher voltage is greater for both of the bimetal strips the relative deflection between the two is such that even at the higher voltage the free end of he bimetal strip 32 catches beneath the hook 36 and separates the contacts 26 and 28 after approximately the same time interval. This point of separation is indicated at the point G.

Since the bimetal strips 22 and 32 preferably are identical, it will be apparent that the switch is inherently compensated for ambient temperature. In other words, any increase in the ambient temperature will cause both strips to flex upwardly an equal amount so that at the starting position the spacingbetween' the end of the hook 36 and the:

end of the bimetal strip. 32 always is substantially constant.

Although only two sets ofA curves, at six and eight. volts, have been shown in Fig. 4, curves for-other voltages willbe either higher or lower asia pair than those shown, depending upon whether the voltages are higher or lower as com-V pared. with the" voltages applied in producing. the curves of. Fig. 4.. As in the case of the two sets of curves' ofv Fig. 4; raising or lowering the curvesf by applying higher or lower voltages does not appreciably shift the point at which the` curves cross and. then separate by an. amount equal. to thel original spacing between the free end of theibimetal strip 32 and the hook 36. Thus, rergardless1 of" whether. the rate of` heating of the: two strips` is high because of a high applied voltage. or whether the` ratey of: heating is lowf because of a low applied voltage, the relative rates of movements of the two strips will be approximately the same even though the actual rates of movement of the two-as a group will vary considerably depending upon the power dissipation of the heating elements at different voltages. Ii desired, the switch of the present invention may be enclosed within a conventional cover or casing to protect it from dirt and damage. No such cover has been shown, however, since such showing would serve no useful purpose.

It will be seen that a time delay switch of the type forming the subject matter of the present invention is admirably suited for interrupting the fuel supply to a heater in the event that the heater does not start promptly and that the time interval during which the heater is given a chance to start before the fuel is turned off will remain substantially constant even though the ambient voltage may vary considerably.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a heater control system having a main electric circuit intended to be connected to a source of electric potential having widely fluctuating voltage characteristics, an igniter circuit connected to said main circuit including an igniter of the hot wire resistance ltype and an igniter switch for cle-energizing said igniter in response to combustion, and a fuel control circuit connected to said main circuit including an electrically actuated fuel valve, a pair of contacts controlling said fuel control circuit, thermostatic means connected to tend to move one of said contacts toward the other slowly and finally to reach an equilibrium position when heated, a heater for said thermostatic means energized by said main circuit, second thermostatic means connected to tend to move the other of said contacts away from the rst when heated, a second heater for said second thermostatic means energized by said igniter circuit, the last said thermostatic means and heater having characteristics such that they at first produce movement of the last said thermostat at a slower rate than the first said thermostat but ultimately cause greater movement of said last said thermostat before reaching an equilibrium position, and lost motion means connecting the last said thermostatic means to said other contact.

2. In a heater control system having a main electric circuit intended to be connected to a source of electric potential having widely fluctuating voltage characteristics, an igniter circuit connected to said main circuit including an igniter of the hot'wire resistance type and an ig-V nter switch for ole-energizing said igniter in response to combustion, and a fuel control circuit connected to said main circuit including an electrically actuated fuel valve, a pair of contacts controlling said fuel control circuit, thermo static means connected to tend to move one of said contacts toward the other slowly `and nally to reach an equilibrium position when heated, a heater for said thermostatic means energized by said main circuit, second thermostatic means connected to tend to move the other of said` con tacts away from the rst when heated, a second heater for said second thermostatic means enersized by said igniter circuit, and the last said thermostatic means and heater having characteristics such that they at first produce movement of the last said thermostat at a slower rate than the first said thermostat but ultimately The followingv references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,149,871 Rohr Mar. 7, 1939. A2,201,328 Y Wallis et al May 21, 1941) 2,217,488 Mahnke Oct. 8, 1940 2,272,977 Slocum et al. Feb. 10, 1942 2,329,119 Jacobs Sept. 7, 1943 2,355,309 Lange Aug. 8, 1944v FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date A France Jan. 14, 1937 

